Mike Jones quickest in ASBK FP2

Mike Jones quickest in ASBK FP2

Mike Jones – Image by Cameron White

Mike Jones will be carrying some serious confidence into the weekend after topping the time sheets this morning, as day two of Round 1 of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli gets underway.

Despite being the final class to hit the track for this morning’s practice sessions, DesmoSport Ducati’s Jones, topped the Australian Superbike times with a fast lap of 1:33.514 around the notoriously fast Phillip Island circuit.

Glenn Allerton – Image by Cameron White

Team Yamaha’s Glenn Allerton was second with a 1:33.765, followed by Crankt Protein Honda Racing’s Jamie Stauffer on 1:33.901.

Jamie Stauffer

Jones, who will also race as a Wildcard entrant in the World Superbike category this weekend, was elated after his second Australian Superbike practice session.

Mike Jones

“It was great to get the second ASBK practice session done, and all of my time on the track seems to be paying off. Topping the Superbike times this morning feels good, especially with ASBK qualifying this afternoon,” he said.

“The bike feels really good, I am riding two different bikes this weekend and the team have worked really hard to get the setup of the Australian Superbike perfect. Hopefully after this morning’s session we can finish the day with a good qualifying position on the grid.

Mike Jones – Image by Andrew Gosling

“The conditions today on track are pretty good, it’s a little bit windy but the track temperature isn’t too bad, and as long as the rain stays away we should be in for a good qualifying session this afternoon.”

Wayne Maxwell marginally improved on his FP1 time to close out practice fourth quickest ahead of Daniel Falzon while Troy Herfoss ranked sixth after failing to improve on his time from Thursday afternoon.

Troy Herfoss

Cru Halliday is starting to get up to speed in seventh place while Robbie Bugden was almost half-a-second slower than the managed yesterday but is eighth on combined times ahead of Superbike debutants Michael Blair and Brayden Elliott.

Supersport

The Supersport category were the third class to hit the circuit for their second free practice this morning, and at the conclusion of the 15-minute session Mark Chiodo took the top time with 1:38.020 on his Triumph Daytona 675.

Mark Chiodo – Image by Cameron White

Following closely behind was yesterday’s fastest Supersport rider, Troy Guenther (1:38.159), and in third was Kyle Buckley with a 1:38.697.

Troy Guenther – Image by Cameron White

Chiodo was happy with his progress from yesterday’s second position, and is oozing confidence, ahead of the commencement of ASBK racing tomorrow.

Mark Chiodo

“This morning I used my old tyres from yesterday, just to get warmed up for qualifying later on and to get a feel of the bike moving around a little bit before this afternoons qualifying session with a lot of grip,” he said,

Mark Chiodo – Image by Cameron White

“I feel a lot more confident after yesterday I was pretty upset after I was 1.3 seconds off the front rider (Troy Guenther) lap time, but I was still in second place, so quite a few of us were a fair way off. Today has been better to get back there and get some motivation back.”

Moto3 / 125 GP

Moto3/125GP class headed out for their second practice session this morning and Brian Houghton took the fastest time with a 1:44.717; Locky Taylor two seconds behind (1:46.748) followed by Tayla Relph with a 1:47.465.

Brian Houghton – Image by Cameron White

Period 5/6 Historics

In the Period 5/6 category, it was Dean Oughtred who once again topped the times on his Suzuki GSX-R1100, with a 1:43.083 lap time ahead of Murray Clark (1:43.460) and Craig Ditchburn concluded the session in third (1:44.224).

Dean Oughtred – Image by Cameron White

Qualifying this afternoon – ASBK Race Schedule

All classes will have a 15 minute qualifying session this afternoon to decide the grids for the weekend’s racing.

The opening support race of the weekend will be tomorrow morning around 0855 when the Historic machines hit the track for their first six lap race. They are immediately followed by a ten-lap race for the combined Moto3/125GP category.

Australian Superbike competitors have their first ten lap bout schedule for 1115 Saturday morning, just before the first WorldSBK Superpole session of season 2016.

Australian Supersport hits the track for their opening ten-lap battle at around 1500 Saturday afternoon, immediately following the opening WorldSBK race for season 2016. The WorldSBK Championship this year sees one race held on Saturday and race two held on Sunday, in a break from the traditional two race on Sunday format.

Late on Saturday the Historic bikes and Moto3/125 both have their second races and it is again these two classes that open proceedings on Sunday morning, with Moto3/125 race three scheduled for 0825 Sunday morning.

The second of the Australian Superbike bouts is scheduled for 0920 Sunday, followed by Australian Supersport race two at 1000.

The third and final Australian Superbike race of the weekend will take place at 1150 Sunday, immediately before the World Supersport race.

Australian Supersport then closes out the WorldSBK weekend at 1610 on Sunday, right after the second World Superbike race.